Authorities believe there is a connection between this case and the nationwide Harvard morgue trafficking scheme, in which a group of people trafficked in human remains stolen from the morgue at Harvard Medical School.
The FBI has accused a 39-year-old Mount Washington man named James Nott of selling human remains and illegally possessing a firearm, and they have filed a federal criminal complaint against him and executed a search warrant at his home.
The agents said they discovered a Harvard Medical School bag containing 40 human skulls, spinal cords, femurs, and hip bones in Nott’s apartment.
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Nott allegedly told the FBI agents, “Only my dead friends,” when they asked if anyone else was home before breaking in.
Agents discovered human remains on Nott’s bed, in a decorative container, and wrapped in a headscarf.
After reviewing his Facebook page and messages, police claimed they discovered human remains Nott had purchased online under the alias “William Burke.”
According to the files, transactions involving human remains were made on the Facebook page as recently as June 2023.
Complaint alleges that he communicated with Jeremy Pauley, a Pennsylvania man who is facing charges related to the sale of human remains from the Harvard morgue. Pauley is 40 years old. They allegedly discussed the sale and purchase of human organs through text messages.
According to HuffPost, an initial investigation indicates that Nott did not obtain the body parts in his possession from the Harvard morgue, but he did try to sell them to someone with knowledge of the case.
One of the alleged text message exchanges between Nott and Mr. Pauley read, in part, “these will be here soon.. not claimed yet.” The messages also included photos and videos of human remains.
“Yeah, a lot of those deals are complete garbage. I don’t mind paying a little more for retail inventory, Mr. Pauley allegedly responded. Puts a positive spin on things. How much would the whole shebang cost, including the spines you mentioned and the last video you sent?
FBI agents conducted a search and claimed to have located a handgun and an AK-47 during the course of their investigation, leading to Nott’s arrest for illegal possession of a firearm. In 2011, Nott was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and an unregistered destructive device.
There was a network of about six people last month who were involved in the gruesome case of trafficking human remains stolen from Harvard Medical School.
Former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Cedric Lodge and his wife were among the at least six people charged with trafficking human remains last month.
US attorney Gerard M. Karam said of the case, “Some crimes defy understanding.”
Human remains trafficking “goes to the heart of what makes us human”